Nammalvar Multiversity

A Future Institution

Who is Nammalvar

Nammalvar (1938-2013) was an Indian green crusader, agricultural scientist, environmental activist, and organic farming leader. He inspired an entire generation of organic farmers and farming leaders to emerge in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Why Nammalvar Multiversity?

  • Because the new realities demanded by the world in terms of skills, competencies, knowledge and networks for people to continue to survive in the planet can go either way.
    • Centralized, corporatized and technology driven: it will be efficient, reduce dependence on humans as much as possible in the process and will make safeguarding itself the primary responsibility.
    • Decentralized, localized and human driven: it will try to be inclusive, holistic and sustain life in the planet
  • Most Universities are building the skills, knowledge and networks to sustain the former.
  • Multiversity will create the knowledge for the later.

What Will the Nammalvar Multiversity Do?

  • Multiversity will bring 3 broad streams of knowledge into learning experiences for all age groups, these are –
    • Practitioner Teacher – practitioners of crafts, skills, knowledge who are otherwise not recognized in the mainstream educational system as having been ‘qualified’ as teachers.
    • Diverse ways and things to learn – learning diverse kinds of knowledge in several ways of learning, not merely through a system of ‘classroom learning’ is another important feature of Multiversity.
    • Localized Need based Learning – acknowledgement of the localized needs of knowledge (such as conservation of the local species, a craft or an art) that is very local and regional in its core and ensuring that they have a chance to thrive

Who are behind the initiative of Nammalvar Multiversity?

  • Nammalvar Multiversity is an initiative by several institutions working across Tamil Nadu to promote and practice diverse forms of earth friendly knowledge, challenge re-colonization through market forces, create localized economies, manage diverse learning spaces and pedagogies, assert cognitive justice and creative freedom.
  • Groups that are very local and can come together to share their learning experience with each other or with their regional / local other institutions and groups.
  • Individuals who want to learn, share or just be part of learning experiences, its initiatives and institutions.
  • Write to the email address contact@nammalvarmultiversity.com for further details and how you can become part of this initiative

When does the Nammalvar Multiversity start functioning?

  • Such learning can happen anytime and anywhere and it does happen everywhere and all the time. The current Nammalvar Multiversity initiative will have its functioning in many of the partner agency locations. It will ensure that the learning ventures and opportunities remain decentralized and local in nature. Some of the Multiversity initiatives, such as the Fellowship have been functional since a few months now, other initiatives will roll out through the year of 2021. Await and watch our social media space or talk to one of our partner agencies for further information.

What exactly will the Nammalvar Multiversity be involved with?

  • Currently through its network institutions, the Nammalvar Multiversity will be involved in the following areas of work:
    • Earth Friendly Education
    • Localized Skill Training
    • Seed Conservation Network
    • Localized Research
    • Local Projects & Initiatives
    • Fellowship for Organic Farmers & Volunteers
    • Fellowship for Scholars & Writers

Where does Nammalvar Multiversity function out of?

The current institutional members of the Nammalvar Multiversity are the following –

Nammalvar Ecological Foundation, Vanagam (https://vanagam.org/) , Karur – an institution founded and nurtured by Nammalvar himself. The current initiative has been made possible by the efforts of the Managing Trustee Thiru. Marutham Kumar from Vanagam.

Puvidham Rural Development Trust, Dharmapuri (http://puvidham.in/), Smt. Meenakshi, the founder head of the Puvidham rural school is one of the pioneers in ensuring localized and farm centric curriculum and knowledge creation for children as part of their education in the country.

Sustainable Livelihood Institute, under Sangamam Trust, (http://tnavsli.in/ ) Auroville, Villupuram – An unique institution that has been training government officials and rural community leaders in sustainable livelihood ideas and practices since its inception in 2015, SLI is a key institution in innovating pedagogies for sustainable livelihood training.

Bhoomi College, (https://bhoomicollege.org/), Thiruvannamalai - A leading sustainable and eco-friendly learning space in South India, Bhoomi college Tiruvannamalai organic farming centre is part of the Multiversity initiative.

Sirgazhi Organic Farmer’s Association (SOFA) – An association with more than 300 organic farmers, active in the delta districts of Tamil Nadu that had worked closely with Thiru. Nammalvar in his last years, this team has been represented by its creator, Smt. Subhashini Sridhar.

Namsandhai Uzhavar Urpathiyaalar Kuzhu and Aivanam Producer Company, Nilgiris – A producer organization with more than 1000 members and a producer company that brings 10 seed saver’s initiatives together is represented in the Multiversity venture by Thiru. Shanmuganathan.

The word ‘Nanban’ literally means ‘friend’ in the classic Indian language Tamil. True to its meaning, Nanban was established with the sole vision of helping the community at large attain financial freedom and supporting the underprivileged through socially relevant initiatives.

Nanban Foundation, (https://nanbanfoundation.org/), in association with TekForce India, has touched the lives of many underprivileged Nanbans through sponsoring thousands of free daily meals during COVID-19 pandemic, women empowerment, environmentally friendly initiatives, such as providing solar power to unelectrified tribal communities, etc.

Get in Touch!

  contact@nammalvarmultiversity.com